Closing Time

NOW YOU KNOW

The 20th Winter Olympics come to their official conclusion tonight in Turin, Italy. The Closing Ceremony will take place in Stadio Olimpico. It likely will contain much of the glitz and glamour of the opening-night gala that began the Games 16 days ago. And they officially will pass the Winter Olympic torch to Vancouver, where the Games return in 2010.

At the Closing Ceremony, the flag-bearers of the participating delegations and the name-board-bearers enter the stadium in single file. Behind them march the athletes, without distinction of nationality.

The Greek flag is hoisted on the flagpole that stands to the right of the central flagpole used for the winners' flags.

The flag of the host country (Italy) is hoisted on the central flagpole while its anthem is played. Finally, the flag of the host country of the next Winter Olympics (Canada) is hoisted on the left-hand flagpole to the strains of its anthem.

The mayor of Turin joins the president of the International Olympic Committee on the rostrum and returns to him the Olympic flag. The IOC president then entrusts it to the mayor of Vancouver. This flag must be displayed in the latter city's main municipal building.

After an address by the president of the Olympic organizing committee, the IOC president gives the closing speech of the Olympics, which he ends with these words: "I declare the Games of the 20th Winter Olympiad closed, and in accordance with tradition, I call upon the youth of the world to assemble four years from now at Vancouver to celebrate with us there the Games of the 21st Winter Olympiad."

A fanfare sounds. The Olympic flame is extinguished, and while the Olympic anthem is played, the Olympic flag is lowered slowly from the flagpole and, unfurled horizontally, carried out of the arena, followed by the flag-bearers. A farewell song resounds.

Carnevale time

Tonight's show will mix the fantasy of the world of "Carnevale" with the sounds, colors and actions typical of the circus. Expect a fusion of world-class acrobatics, dancing and comedic theater, with allusions to the Renaissance, royalty and the battle between good and evil.

There will be a cast of thousands, using fire, sparklers, ropes, confetti and laser lights. On the stage, there will be some of the original costumes from the film The Clowns by Federico Fellini. The musical star of the show is tenor Andrea Bocelli. The Olympic flag will be transferred from Turin Mayor Sergio Chiamparino to IOC President Jacques Rogge, who will present it to Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan. A skiing accident left Sullivan a quadriplegic at the age of 19. It's traditional for the new mayor to wave the flag - which is six square meters - back and forth eight times. This presents a special problem for Sullivan, who has lost the use of the muscles in his fingers.

Engineers have designed a special stainless-steel holster to fit on his motorized wheelchair so he'll be able to receive the flag.

VANCOUVER HERE WE COME

The 2010 Games in Vancouver will take place from Feb. 12-28, 2010.

Countdown to the Opening Ceremony: 1,447 days (as of today).

Number of athletes and officials: 5,000

Venues: Vancouver, Cypress Mountain and Whistler. The opening and closing ceremonies will take place at the 55,000-seat BC Place Stadium. This will be the first time in Olympic history where the Winter Games ceremonies will be held indoors.